Means for controlling aeroplanes



NOV. 4,1930. l F, PAGE 1,780,838

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING AEROPLANES Filed. Jan. 23, 1928* 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Patented Nv,. `4, 1930 UNITED 4STATES l'PAIENT OFFICE FREDERICK HANDLEY PAGE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORTO HANDLEY PAGE LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND MEANS ron coN'raoLL'ING .aimciriaiu'ns'A Application Bled January 23, 1928, Serial No.'

In the specifications of several preceding patents which describe means now commonly known as the Handley Page slotted wing,

whereby aeroplane wings are maintained in Y. 5 efficient flight at larger angles of incidence than had previously been practicable, various means have been illustrated and described for operati-ng forwardly located aerofoils 'in order to separate them from the forward portions of the main wings, so as-to open slots between the forwardly located win s and the main wings when desired.

Ithave ascertained in the trial of the various aeroplane constructions fitted in accordance with these mechani-sms, and also by `means of specific wind channel tests, that with change in the angle of incidence of the main wings and forwardly located auxiliary wings, the pressure of .the air flow on the upper surface of such forwardly located wings `diminishes with the increase in the angle of incidence ofthe combined structure A taken as a whole. The continued increase in the angle of incidence ultimately removes the positive pressure on the upper surface of the forwardly located wing, and induces a negative pressure or suction, consequently, should the forwardly located wing be free to move about suitable pivot-s or on suitable guides, the forwardly located wing will move away f from the main win automatically when the angle of incidence as increased sufficiently to induce the forwardly located win to leave the main wing. In a similar way, t e reduction in the angle of incidence of the struc-- ture as a whole, causes the forwardly located wing to return to its position a ainst the main wing. These movements' o the forwardly located wing can only be secured if the saidforwardly located wing is free to move on guiding members in such a way as to ermit the change inpressure to effect this adjustment, and also if no mechanism is interposed which will prevent the change in air ressure causing the forwardly located wlng to adjust itself automatically.

' YThe object of my invention therefore is to apply this discovery to the controlling of aeroplanes. In .its broadest aspect the 1nvention therefore consists in means for con- 24s,e`19,"ana mereat mitainhly e, 1927;

trolling aeroplanes comprising a mainwing havin a forwardly located section separable ina orward direct-ion therefrom the 'said section being so formed and guided that in iight at small angles of incidence the pressures received on its faces maintain it in contact with the main wing while as the angle of Hight of the'aeroplaneincreases the guiding mechanism permits the forward section to leave the main wingvunder the' influence of the change in the air pressures ori its surface and to advance to a position which permits air to iow between the forward section and the main wing. Further features of the invention and various forms of constructiony applicable to produce the said `result are described in the succeeding partof this speciicationl and claimed in the claiming clauses thereof. l

The forwardly located wing is preferably formed of a forward section of the wing itself, in such a manner that when in its rearmost position it forms part of the wing preof the wing, and each such section by reason of its system or arrangement of its path of movement may be caused to move ina forward direction at any predetermined change in the nangle of incidence. Y

The movements-of the forward section may be suitably guided by links or by runners in slides, suitable-connectingmeans being provided when necessary to ensure the 'parallel movement of the said forward section. In the accompanying drawings three sonstructions are illustrated as examples of means for guiding and controlling the movements of the said forward sections as they move automatically under the iniiuence of the change in ressure on their surfaces.

illustrated, the forward section and the main igure '1 is a diagrammatic section which .a bracket on the main wing. In the position y wing are close together, forming a wing of unbroken contour. y. y

Elgure 2 1s a similar v1ew of the same wing with the forward section drawn into the forward position by the changein pressure of the air on its surface.

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a diagrammatic section of a wing in which the forward section iscarried onvrunners, the said forward section being in the closed position.,

Figure villustrates the same mechanism in the open position;

Figure 6 is a plan of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail view takenon the line X, Y, of Figure 5, and

Figure 8 is a simila-ryiew taken on the line X1, Y1, of Figure 5. i

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic 'section of a wing in which the forward section is carried von hinged links, the said forward section being in the open position, and

Figure 10 is a plan of-Figure 9. Figure 11 is a planof a slightly modified construction to that illustrated at Figures 9 and 10. n

'Referring to the drawings, A is the main wing, and B is the forward section of the said main wing. C is a rearwardly extenda greater rate than the rear portion,

ing arml attached to the underside ofthe forward section B and which enters a recess D in the forward face of the main wing In the arrangement illustrated 1n Flgures 1, 2 and 3, the arm C is supported on ther,

upper pivots of links E and F. The lower pivots of the links E and F are carried on a downwardly depending bracket Gr, which 1s convenient for carrying such links in the case of wings of insuflicientthickness to carry the pivots-inside. For the particular'wing section illustrated the link E is shorter than the link F for the urpose of causingthe front portion of the orward section B to move 1n a` forward direction away from the w1n at us ensuring the maintenance of a true forml of slot. :The comparative lengths of these llnks E and F may be determined according to the position it is required for the forward sectionA B to assume when it is moved forward under the influence of the changein air pres@v SureS- Itis desirable so to design the links which the forward section as it is moved' forward under the -action of the air pressures. By making, for example, the vforward lmks E shorter than the after links F, and locating the pivots of the after links farther back in the structure of the main wing A., the forward section may be moved outwards with its leading-edge progressing in a forward direction to a greater extent than the trailing edge; and thus a slot having greater width at its entrance than at its exit may be secured.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 4 to 8, the arm C'instead of being pivoted, as

in the first exampleilglustrated, is attached to asliding bar H which is conveniently of channel section suitable for enclosing two fixed rollers J, J1, carried on the bracket G,

suitably attached to the main wing. In this construction the forward section is free to travel forwards in a straight path following the line of the bar H when the air pressures von the said forward section B draw it away from the main wing so as to leave a slot be\ tween itself and the mainwing. A buffer K on the inner end of the bar H limits the distance of travel of the/bar H by coming Y into contact with a stop L fixed on the bracket G. This v.buffer and stop, therefore, deter-l mine the extent of movement of the forward section B, and consequently the-'amount of opening of the slot.

One of the rollers (J1) drawing with a' vertical adjustment permitting its` location to be raised or lowered for the purpose of 'adjusting the line of movement ofthe forward section B.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11, instead of carrying the forward section B on a rearwardly extending arm C aoy is shown in the as in the examples before illustrated, the said L forward section B is hinged Aat M to hinged links N, one only of such links being illustrated. The rearward hinge supporting'the hinged link N is indicated at P where the said hinge 1:A connects the hinged link N to the forward end of a bracket R which is shown attached to theforward spar Sof the win to which the forward section Bis applie A spring T which, as illustrated in Figure 10,

tends to keep the slot closed, restrains the v 'y advance of the forward 'section B causing it to advance slowly against the spring tension when moved forward by change in air forward `sectio B without being prevented l111s pressute and e sures the return ofthe said from so returning by reason ofthe dead centres of the hinged links N. The hinged links N may be prevented from extending beyond a forward limit say, 60 by a stpsuch as the stop N1 se n in Figure 11, andthe hinged links N are soproportioned lthat'in I' this modified construction' the forwardsection completes `its outwardtravel before ar-v riving at the dead centre of the hinged links N. This permits the forwardsection B toreturn to the closed position when the resultant pressures lon the saidl forward section B4 re-.

move the forward section in a forward direction. Thus, any resultant pressure angle inclining in advance of the axes of the hinges will commence to drawthe forward section forward, while, with a straight rail, any resultant pressure forward of an angle of 90 to such straight rail, will tend to move the forward section forward.

The automatic arrangement for controlling the movement may be applied to forward sections extending throughout the major portion of wings either in large sections or in small sections, and-sections automatically operated asabove described may also be located at the outer ends of the wings in front ofthe locations of the ailerons, where they will ensure thev outer ends of the wings remaining eiiicient even 'after' the central main portions of the wings have become stalled.

Damping devices, such as dashpots or elastic cushions, may be provided for the purpose of regulating and ensuring smooth change in position of the forward sections of the wing.

In the case of the application of the automatic air operated sections to the outer portions of the wings, mechanical connections with lost motion devices may be introduced between the forward section and the aileron, in order that, when theslot is opened by the air pressures as described above, an upward excessive or any upward movement of the aileron above the normal closes or partially closes the slot at the leading edge in front of it.

The forces acting on the forward aerofoil, causing. it to open, may be utilized to pull down a flap at the rear of the wing, by connecting the forward section of the wing to a flap at the rear of the wing, so that as the forward section advances and opens the slot between litselfy and thev main wing, the iiap may be drawn down by the forward section as the latter moves forward automatically.

Instead of employing a forward section which is moved forwardly to open a slot under the influence of air pressures on its surface, the said movable section may be located at the back of the wing and open a slot by reason of its movement in a rearward direction under the influence of air pressures on its surfaces. Alternatively, such rearward section may be used conjointly with the forward automatically' operated section. The -pivots and slides would, in'such -rearwardly moving section, be reversed in direction compared with the pivots and slots on a forward section. 1

By the use of automatic air-operated sections whichoopen the slots in the wings when the angle of incidence has increased be ond a predetermined degree, the range'in ying angles of the wing may-be increased to a very considerable degree. If the automatically operated sections lextend throughout the span of the wings, an aircraft is secured in which the stalling angle may be increased, say, from 14 to, say, 25. It is practicable .with such an application of the invention,

to ily the machine at the larger angles, but when the increased angular limit is reached, the machine would then be liablefto stalling on attaining the increased angular limit of incidence in the same way in which machine'sff` not fitted with slotapparatus are liable .to

stall when exceeding their smaller critical angle.

In cases where the automatic sections'are' .fitted only to the outer portions of the wings,

the angle of stalling on such outer portions is `delayed,.whi1st the central' portion of the machine where the automatically-operating sections are not applied, remains subject to stalling at the earlier critical angle of incidence. Consequently, the machine fitted with automatic slot sections o n the outer ends of the wings cannot become out of control by y merely increasing its angle of incidence, bef` cause, 'when the centre portion of the machine becomes stalled, the outer endsof the wings are under full control. Lateral stability ma'y therefore be secured by the application of slot mechanism applied to the outer.` ends of the wings, soas automatically to open under the iniuence of the air pressures beforethe stalling angle of the machine has beenat tained.

It is also obvious that by fitting the central portion of the machine with automatic ica slot-operated mechanism designed to increase the flying angle of the main portion of the wings to, say 20, and by fitting the outer ends of the wings with slot mechanism'de signed to incre se the available flying angle of such outer ortions of the wing to, say,

25, a mac-hine ay be produced which has A I anglesl not attained before the introduction of the slot mechanism, and which are safe from all possibility of stalling when attainingthe critical angle of the central portion of the machine.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is an increased lif due to the wings lifting at 1. In aeroplanes, the combination' 'of a main wing and a forwardly located auxiliary Y wing, said auxiliary 'wing freely movable toward and away from said main wing withv in prescribed limits solely by the. action of,

the air pressure on the surface. of iary wing.

2. In aeroplanes, the combination of a main wing and a forwardly located auxiliary wing adapted'to nest over the forward edge of the main wingA said auxiliary wing freely moveable away from the main/wing in a forward direction for a limited distance solely under the influence of the air pressure on the surface of said auxiliary wingl and freely moveable back toward and into nesting relation with the main wing solely under the influence of the air pressure on the surface ofthe auxiliary wing.

said auxilf' 3. In aeroplanes, the combination of'a4 main wing and a forwardly located auxiliary wing adapted to nest over. the forward edge ofthe main wing, said auxiliary wing freely moveable away from the mainwing in a forward direction for a limited distance without substantially modifying its angular relation `to the main wing solely under the influence of the air pressure on the surface of said auxiliary wing and freely moveable back toward and into nesting relation with the main wing solely under theinuence of the air pressure on the surface of said auxiliary wing.

4. In aeroplanes, means for automatically establishing a slot adjacent the forward edge ofthe main wing at large angles of incidence and automatically closing said slot at normal 4 angles of incidence comprising a main wing and a forwardly locatedauxiliary wing, said auxiliary wing freely moveable toward and away from said main wing within prescribed limits solel by the action of the air pressure on the sur ace of said. auxiliar wing.

fmeans associating said auxiliary win 5. In aeroplanes, the combination of a main win and a forwardly located auxiliary wing, sai auxiliary wing freely movable toward and away from said main wing within prescribed limits solely by the action of the air pressure on the surface of said auxiliary wing, pivots fixed to the main wing ang said pivots adapted to permit the s ai auxiliary wing to remain in contact .with the l main wing while at small angles of incidence when the pressure received on its faces maintains it in contact with the main wing, while as the angle of lHight of the aeroplane increases the auxiliary "wing will leave the main wing solely under the xinfluence of the change of the air pressures on its surfaces.

- 6. In aeroplanes, the combination of a main win and a forwardly located auxiliary wing, s ai auxiliary wing freely movable toward and away from said main wing within prescribed limits solely by the action of the air pressure on the surface of said auxiliary n*.fiwing and links adapted to support andl guide v such forward wing in itsforward'and return movements. g 7. In aeroplanes, the combination of a `win I auxi ia assure t at in all intermediate positions of main wing and a forwardly located auxiliary wing, saidauxiliary wing freely movable toward and away from saidmain wing within prescribed limits solely by the action of airV pressure on the surfaceof said auxiliaryl wing and uides for the auxiliary wing which permit a s id ing movement to and fro.

-' 8. In aeroplanes, the combination of a are in equilibrium under the influence of the air pressures acting upon it.

9. In aeroplanes, vthe' combination of a main win and a forwardly located auxiliary wing, sai auxiliary wing freely movable ytoward and away from said main wing within prescribed limits solely by the action ofthe air pressure onthe surface of said auxiliary 4wing, .means associating the auxiliary wing.

and main wing ada ted to regularly increase the angle which is ormed between the chord of the auxiliary wing and the chord of the main wing as the auxiliary wing moves forwardly. l

. 10. In aeroplanes, means f-,or automatically establishing a slot adi acent the forward Y edge of the mam wing at arge angles of. incidence'and automatically closingsaid slot at normal angles of incidence, comprising a main win and a forwardly located auxiliary wing, sai auxiliary wing freely movable to A ward and awayfrom said main wing within prescribed limits solely by the action of the air pressureA on the surface of said auxiliary and includin means associating the wing an main wing adapted to the auxiliarywing as well as in the fully open: position the slot thus formed has its openingen the under surface of the wing inadvance of the opening of the upper surface.

11. In aeroplanes, means for automatically establishing a slot adjacent the forward edge of the main wing at large angles of incidence and automatically closing said slot at normal angles of incidence, comprising a main wing anda forwardly located auxiliary wing, said auxiliary wing freelyl movable toward and awa from said mainwingv within prescribed limits solely by the action of the air pressure on the surface of said auxiliary wing and means associating the main wing and auxiliary wing adapted .to assure that in all intermediate positions as well as in the fully open position the slot thus formed between the upper and lower surfacehas its opening on .the under side of thel wing of iio greater widthin the fore and aft direction than the opening on the up er side.

12. In aeroplanes, means or automatically l establishing a slot adjacent the forward edge of the main win at large angles of incidence vand automatical y closing `said slot at normal angles of incidence, comprising a main wing anda forwardly located auxiliary wing, said auxiliary wing freely movable toward and awa from said main wing within prescribed limits solely under Vthe action of the air pressure on the surface of said auxiliary wing and means associating the main wing Y and auxiliary wing adapted to assure that 1n 'through disturbance all intermediate positions aswell asin the- 'fully open position of the auxiliary wing,

the walls of the slot thus formed are curved l rearwardly from the lower opening to the upper opening so as to direct the air passing the slot with the minimum 'possible from the lower surface where there is pressure to the upper surface; where there is suction.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my FREDERICK HANDLEY PAGE. 

